Duplex menu.



1N0 Model.)

Application filed Aug. 30. 1398.)

Patented Sept. 12. I899: S. BILLDW.

DUPLEX MENU.

2 Sheets-Sheet L N0. 632,957. Patented Sept. l2, I899. S. B'ILLUW.

I DUPLEX menu. (Application filed Aug. 80, 1695.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

wwnaweo :NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

SHERMAN BILLOWV, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

DUPLEX MENU.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 632,957, datedSeptember 12, 1899.

Application filed August 30,1898. Serial No. 689,851. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHERMAN BILLow, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Duplex Menus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to a duplex menu or bill of fare for the use ofhotels, restaurants, eating-houses, club-houses, steamers, steamboats,and dining-cars generally; and its object is to provide an improvedconstruction of the same which will not only render the ordering ofmeals or articles of food less irksome to the guests, but will alsoinsure their getting just what they ordered. It will also relieve thecooks or those who serve the meals of a great deal of work and will actas a check, so that the cashier or proprietor can know exactly what hasbeen served, thereby allowing him to trace .the source of the leaks andput a stoppage to the same.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a duplexmenu-card or bill of fare constructed in accordance with my invention.Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified construction. Fig. 3 is a centrallongitudinal section of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view of Fig. 2.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral l designates a covercomprising afront 2 and a back 3, somewhat similar to the cover of anordinary book and connected together by a flexible joint 4. Around theedges of the inner sides of said cover are spaces 5, containing suitableadvertisements, and in the central space on the inner side of the front2 is printed a menu or bill of fare of the dishes served, which dishesare consecutively numbered and which also have the prices of the sameprinted thereon, if desired.

Connected with the inner side of the back 3 is a tablet 6, consisting ofa number of separate leaves 7, connected or attached to each other atthe upper ends or edges. Each of these leaves has print-ed thereonconsecutively-arranged numbers corresponding with the numbers on themenu or bill of fare and having also printed thereon, near the upperend, Table No. and Chair No. the dashes designating spaces for thenumber of the table and chair to be inserted by the waiter. The saidleaves near their upper edges are provided with a row of perforations 8to facilitate their attachment.

In using the invention the guest will look over the menu-card or bill offare and selecting such dishes as he wishes will check off the numbersthereof on one of the leaves 7. This leaf will now be detached by thewaiter, who will enter thereon the number of the chair and table 000 upied by the guest and will take the leaf to the cook or server of thearticles of food, who will have a corresponding menu or bill of fare, sothat all he will have to do in order to prepare the dish or dishesordered will be to note the number or numbers of the same on hismenu-card or bill of fare. If desired, a sheet of carbon-paper may beinterposed between said leaves and coupons, (the use of the carbon-paperbeing esspecially adapted for restaurant service,) so that a duplicateof the order may be made which can be furnished to the cashier orproprietor, who will be enabled to see just what has been ordered by theguest. It will thus enable the guest to know precisely what he ordersand the cost thereof and avoid all con troversy between the guest andthe waiter or cashier as to the articles ordered and their cost.

By the said invention the guest will be relieved of the trouble ofwriting out the names of the dishes he wishes, as he simply checks offon the leaves the numbers of said dishes, and it will also obviate thenecessity of the waiter committing to memory the dishes or dered andcommunicating them to the servers, which is liable to lead to confusion,especially in time of a rush.

In the modification shown in Figs. 2 and 4 the said cover is connectedwith a casing 10, also consisting of a front 12 and a back 13, connectedtogether by a flexiblejoint 14. This joint 14.- is provided with a loop15,which serves as a clasp or clamp for holding a lead-pencil. This looppasses through an opening 16 in the joint of the cover formed byslitting the material thereof. The edges of the said casing are providedwith inwardly-extending flaps 17, which engage with the edges of thecover number of detachable leaves having thereon numbers correspondingwith the numbers of said articles and provided with spaces to receivethe number of the chair and table, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

SHERMAN BiLLoW.

Vitnesses:

J. J. MAURER, N. F. NEELY.

